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18
Mar
'Total devastation' in Pannal woodland as contractors move in
A beauty spot in Pannal, south of Harrogate, is now a “scene of total devastation” according to a local resident, after contractors started work to lay a new sewage pipeline.
Sandy Bank Wood, which is a site of importance for nature conservation (SINC), is now out of bounds to the public and mature trees have been cut down to create access for heavy machinery to pass through it.
Resident Dr Kevin Walker, who is head of science at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, told us:
The contractors [...] are taking lots of fine old trees. It's a scene of total devastation. I'm challenging Yorkshire Water as they are destroying ground flora habitat with bluebells, which is a protected (Schedule 8) plant, and also disturbing habitat near the pond which has newts, frogs and toads.
Sandy Bank Wood before work started.
Plan for loss of habitat
Yorkshire Water says the work is a necessary prerequisite to the installation of two new storage tanks, which will hold excess wastewater and rainwater during periods of bad weather to prevent it from being discharged from storm overflows.
The Stray Ferret asked the company what plans it had to compensate for the loss of habitat. A spokesperson told us:
We are operating a controlled and safe operation in the woodland which will enable us to complete the works and are working only in the area required.
Members of the public have attended site and moved the fencing that is there to keep people safe – we would urge people not to do this.
We are in direct contact with the landowner, and are working with them on an appropriate reinstatement strategy, which is not yet finalised.
The landowner is believed to be North Yorkshire Council.
Dr Walker said:
Yorkshire Water have a statutory duty to do the work but also have a biodiversity duty to compensate/mitigate the damage they cause, especially given that the wood is a SINC.
Yorkshire Water said it had “completed all the necessary ecological surveys and implemented all mitigation measures as advised by appropriately qualified specialists, and according to current guidance and legislation”.
'Essential measure as the area grows'
The sewage pipeline, which varies from 200mm to 300mm (8 to 12 inches) in diameter, will pass largely under farmland, from Harlow Hill wastewater pumping station at the entrance to RHS Harlow Carr, to Harrogate South wastewater treatment works in Crimple Valley, skirting around the south-west edge of the town.
Yorkshire Water says the project, which is due to take 15 months to complete, is an “essential measure for the future resilience and performance of the wastewater network as the area grows”.
More than 2,000 new homes are already being built or are planned for Harrogate’s ‘western arc’, and many residents have called for infrastructure – such as roads and sewage capacity – to be improved ahead of any development. This pipeline would go some way to answering those calls.
'Only viable option'
Yet the scheme has caused consternation in Pannal, where residents are concerned particularly about its effect on Sandy Bank Wood, which is popular with walkers.
Trees have been cut down and access is barred.
Yorkshire Water says it will use “temporary stone” for the route through the wood and will be “re-establishing the historic trackway” afterwards.
It also says that alternative routes were explored “at length”, but the route through the wood was the only viable option.
We asked Yorkshire Water why those alternative options, such as a route through the village, were dismissed. The spokesperson said:
There are a number of reasons why various alternative routes were not seen to be viable. These include: the potential requirement to remove trees on the village green and the visual impact of this in a historic conservation area; duty of care to local residents; multiple issues with access in the village, via the A61, and over Crimple Beck that could be very disruptive or require extensive engineering; impact on farming operations; and impact on ecology.
The Stray Ferret will be monitoring the situation and reporting on developments.
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